Indiana Football Transfer Portal Tracker: Curt Cignetti is Reloading, Not Rebuilding

Remember when Indiana football was basically just a gentle warmup act for basketball season? Yeah, neither does Curt Cignetti.

We are living in a timeline where the Indiana Hoosiers aren’t just winning; they are in the College Football Playoff Semis and staring down the barrel of a national title. It’s arguably the weirdest, most wonderful simulation glitch in sports history. But if you think Cignetti is sitting back, lighting a cigar, and enjoying the view, you haven’t been paying attention. The man works the transfer portal like a day trader with inside information.

With Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza graduating and likely heading to play on Sundays, the biggest question in Bloomington wasn’t “What’s next?” but “Who’s next?” The answer is here, and it’s loud.

Here is the breakdown of who is coming to Bloomington, who is packing their bags, and what it all means for the 2026 title defense.

The Josh Hoover Era Begins

Let’s be real: replacing a Heisman winner is usually a recipe for a hangover season. But Cignetti went out and grabbed perhaps the most pro-ready arm available. Josh Hoover is coming in from TCU, and his résumé is ridiculous.

We aren’t talking about a project player here. Hoover has thrown for nearly 10,000 career yards and 71 touchdowns. He’s leaving Fort Worth with a 64.8% completion rate. The guy is a machine. He only has one year of eligibility left, which tells you everything you need to know about Indiana’s mindset: they are all-in on winning right now. This is a rental, sure, but it’s a luxury rental.

New Toys On Offense

Hoover isn’t coming to town empty-handed. The Indiana Hoosiers snagged Nick Marsh from Michigan State, and frankly, this feels like sweet revenge. Marsh is a 6-foot-3 nightmare for cornerbacks who has already torched defenses across the Big Ten. He snagged 100 balls during his time with Sparty. Pairing a veteran gunslinger like Hoover with a massive target like Marsh? That is going to keep defensive coordinators up at night.

And then there’s the backfield. Indiana landed a running back from Boston College named Turbo Richard. First off, “Turbo” is an elite football name. But on the field, he brings versatility. He rushed for over 1,000 yards at BC but also caught 32 passes. In Cignetti’s offense, which demands backs who can catch out of the backfield, Richard is a plug-and-play starter with two years of eligibility left.

Reinforcing the Trenches

You can’t win in the Big Ten or the playoffs without being scary up front. The defensive line room was looking a little thin with guys like Mikail Kamara running out of eligibility, so the staff hit the portal hard.

They brought in Joshua Burnham from Notre Dame. If you can steal a starter from the Fighting Irish, you do it. Burnham is a seasoned vet with 40 games under his belt. He’s not flashy, but he’s sturdy.

Then you have the Kansas State connection. Indiana raided the Wildcats for Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor. Osunsanmi is a pure edge rusher. If he stays healthy, he’s a problem. Obiazor is fascinating because he’s massive (6-foot-6, 275 pounds) and can slide inside or play on the edge. That kind of versatility is gold when you’re trying to confuse opposing quarterbacks.

The Secondary Shuffle

The back end of the defense is getting a makeover, too. With Safety Louis Moore graduating, there was a gaping hole in the secondary. Enter Preston Zachman from Wisconsin. He’s a seventh-year senior. Yes, you read that right. The guy has been playing college football since TikTok was just a Kesha song. He brings a ridiculous amount of experience and ball production (7 career picks).

To pair with the old guard, they grabbed Jiquan Sanks from Cincinnati. Sanks is a heat-seeking missile who loves playing in the box. He racked up 92 tackles last year. The combination of Zachman playing center field and Sanks playing near the line of scrimmage gives Indiana a very balanced, dangerous safety duo.

Who Is Heading for the Exit?

It’s not all arrivals. The transfer portal giveth, and the transfer portal taketh away. However, looking at the departure list, Hoosier fans shouldn’t be panicking.

The DePaepe brothers (Andrew and William) are both headed out, along with Cornerback Amariyun Knighten and Wideout Makai Jackson. The reality? These guys weren’t playing. When a team ascends to national title contender status, the roster naturally churns. The ceiling has been raised in Bloomington, Indiana, and guys who aren’t cracking the two-deep depth chart are going to look for greener pastures. It’s part of the business.

Bottom line: The roster turnover is high, but the talent level is arguably getting higher. Cignetti isn’t looking for a rebuild year; he’s looking for a ring at Indiana.